Features

Haven’t been watching the Throne lately? Luckily, HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones is helping viewers (both newbs and vets) catch up on seasons past with the Catch The Throne mixtape. Based off the novels penned by George R. R. Martin, the show gives fantasy drama its swag back, with the help of dragons, the smoking hot “Mother of Dragons” Khaleesi, inter-family scandal and sword-clashing across Seven Kingdoms.

Now, for season 4, HBO is adding hip-hop to the mix. Catch The Throne will carry new tracks from self-proclaimed GoT fans Common, Wale, Big Boi and Daddy Yankee, while also giving rising rappers, like Bodega Bamz and Snow Tha Product, shine. Each artist hopped in the booth and spit fire (pun intended) about the show’s characters and prevalent theme of power struggle.

“Game of Thrones centers around battles for power and rap is definitely a battle for power,” Comm says.

While the goal of the project was to attract more eyeballs for the new season, it was also intended to reach various audiences.

“Helping people catch up was the genesis of the idea,” Lucinda Martinez, the SVP of Multicultural Marketing at HBO told VIBE. “We know that hip-hop impacts all audiences and realized there were a lot of artists who were fans of the show. We thought this could be a great opportunity to have them sing or rap or whatever their artistic interpretation of the show was to help us create stunts that we could share through music.”

Expect Catch The Throne to drop on Soundcloud this month right before the show kicks off season 4 on April 6 on HBO. GoT Stans can also unite at the New York’s Barclays Center to catch a special screening on March 20.—Adelle Platon (@adelleplaton)